Infobrief
Mar 13, 2026

Report: Iran Claims It Has Enough Uranium for 11 Nuclear Bombs 1

U.S. negotiations with Iran have dramatically collapsed after Iranian officials openly declared their intention to continue enriching uranium to levels capable of producing nuclear weapons.

According to President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, the statement immediately shocked the American delegation and effectively ended the possibility of productive talks.

Witkoff explained that Iranian negotiators began the meeting by firmly asserting what they described as their “undeniable right” to enrich uranium without restrictions. The declaration immediately raised serious concerns among U.S. officials.

During an interview with Fox News, Witkoff said he and Jared Kushner exchanged uneasy glances as Iranian officials doubled down on their position.

“The Iranians made it clear from the very beginning,” Witkoff said. “They believe they have a full right to enrich every bit of uranium they possess. That was literally how the conversation started.”

The American delegation quickly pushed back, stating that Washington believes Iran should not have any uranium enrichment capability at all. Instead of compromising, Iranian officials reportedly reinforced their stance.

“At that moment Jared and I looked at each other like, ‘Is this really happening?’” Witkoff recalled.

The negotiations took a decisive turn when Iran rejected a major U.S. proposal aimed at preventing nuclear escalation. Under the proposal, Iran would freeze its uranium enrichment program for ten years while the United States would supply nuclear fuel for civilian energy purposes. Tehran flatly rejected the offer.

“That’s when we knew they had no intention of stopping,” Witkoff said. “Everything pointed toward continuing enrichment that could eventually lead to nuclear weapons.”

The situation became even more alarming when Iranian negotiators reportedly acknowledged possessing about 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—dangerously close to weapons-grade material. According to Witkoff, Iranian officials even admitted that this quantity could theoretically be converted into as many as 11 nuclear bombs.

“They weren’t trying to hide it,” he said. “In fact, they seemed proud of it.”

Witkoff also claimed that Iranian representatives boasted about their ability to bypass international monitoring systems while expanding their nuclear program.

Tensions reached a boiling point during a heated meeting in Geneva last Thursday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly reacted angrily after U.S. officials again demanded a decade-long halt to uranium enrichment.

Despite the tense exchange, Witkoff said he remained calm. “I simply told him, ‘If you prefer, I can leave,’” he recalled.

After the talks collapsed, the U.S. delegation quickly briefed President Donald Trump. According to a senior administration official, the president was surprised by how openly Iranian negotiators insisted on continuing their enrichment program.

Other posts